Where The Wild Things Are: First Look!

AICN has this nice interview between "Moriarty" and Spike Jonze, who is directing "Where the Wild Things Are" as a live action film. It's a fascinating interview because Moriarty has seen a rough cut of the film and he speaks casually about it with Jonze, who is typically very interview-shy. There's even a moment where Jonze polls "Moriarty" for his opinion on whether some pics they're looking at should be released pre-film release or after. Jonze is looking for an actual opinion and "Moriarty" gives a smart response. It's fascinating to peek into the an actual discussion and decision-making process, which normally takes place hidden away in board rooms and in marketing departments.

Additionally, the notices that I heard last year that the film was in serious trouble are explained better here. The film isn't bad or terribly written or over-directed, it is TONALLY different than what the studios thought they were getting and it panicked them. Jonze also shot it in a way that is labor-intensive (shooting in Australia, with body-suit puppets of the Wild Things, which are supposed to get facial expressions created later in post, but matching the wildly variable, organic look of the live footage. A challenge for computer animators who typically prefer to work in more controlled environments.) Jonze co-scripted the film with Dave Eggers. I'm fascinated that Eggers had a hand in this thing. I'm curious to see what he brought to the project.

One more cool hook about this film, Jonze talks about how he got into the process of expanding a ten sentence book into a full length feature film. Rather than tacking plotlines and other nonsense onto the film, Jonze delves deeper into who the Wild Things are and how they became Wild Things and what they want. Why DO they subjugate themselves to a small, very-breakable human child? One clue to this answer is that the Wild Things embody Wild Emotions that children often feel. Anger. Jealousy. Joy. Suspicion. Fear. Things that children can't control. Given the chance to run "wild" they become the Wild Things or are personified by the Wild Things.

I think that's a smart idea. Fleshing out what Sendak wrote, without needlessly complicating things. (Sendak has been involved with this process since Day One and is absolutely on board with this film.) By making smart decisions like this, I think that the movie can avoid ending up over-produced and absolutely charmless, like "Cat In The Hat".

AICN also posted these two exclusive pics, which hint at the design and look of the Wild Things, without giving too much away. I like everything I've seen about this film. I'll absolutely be checking it out in Halloween of next year.

Cheers,
Mr.B